The association between sexually transmitted infections, human papillomavirus, and cervical cytology abnormalities among women in Greece. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parthenis, Christos; Panagopoulos, Periklis; Margari, Niki; Kottaridi, Christine; Spathis, Aris; Pouliakis, Abraham; Konstantoudakis, Stefanos; Chrelias, George; Chrelias, Charalambos; Papantoniou, Nikolaos; Panayiotides, Ioannis G.; Tsiodras, Sotirios
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 73(2018)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- HPV -- Sexually transmitted infections -- Ureaplasma -- High-risk HPV; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.06.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Co-infections of human papillomavirus (HPV) with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like Chlamydia spp, Mycoplasma spp, and Ureaplasma spp were frequently detected. HPV and other STIs were rarely detected among women with normal cytology results. Approximately one in every four women harbouring Ureaplasma spp had an HPV infection by one or more high-risk subtypes. Abstract: Objective: To investigate the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the presence of cytological changes in the cervix in a cohort of sexually active women in Greece. Methods: Cervical cytology testing and the molecular typing of HPV and other STIs were performed for 345 sexually active women aged between 18 and 45 years (mean 33.2 ± 7.2 years) visiting a gynaecology clinic for routine cervical screening. The association of HPV and STI detection with cytological findings was investigated. Results: HPV was detected in 61 women (17.7%) and STIs in 82 (23.8%). Ureaplasma spp was the most frequently detected pathogen, which was found in 63 (18.2%) women, followed by Mycoplasma spp (21 women, 25.6%) and Chlamydia trachomatis (five women, 6.1%). HPV positivity only (with no co-presence of STI) was associated with an abnormal cytology (odds ratio 6.9, p < 0.001), while women who were negative for both HPV and STIs had a higher probability of a normal cytology (odds ratio 0.36, p < 0.01). Sixteen out of the 63 (25.4%) women who tested positive for Ureaplasma spp, harboured a high-risk HPV type (odds ratio 2.3, p = 0.02). Conclusions: In a population with a high prevalence of Ureaplasma spp, there was an association of this pathogen with high-risk HPV infection, a finding that needs further elucidation.